Wichita eagle., 1887-05-15
GOVERNMENT CROP REPORT.


winter grain, progress of spring blowing
and proportion of the proposed cotton ares
already planted. 1t indicates decline il
the condition Of wheat of two points since
April 1, the general average for the whole
country being SO, against 95 at the same
date in 1886, 20 in 1885 and 81 in 1884. Tht
changes in conditions have not been uni
form throughout the winter wheat region
some states showing an increase, the major
ity slight decline land few heavy falling
off. The states of the middle Atlantic coast
from Pennsylvania to North Carolina
show some improvement, seasonable wea
ther having aided the plant in recovering
more than was expected from the injury
done by the trying season during February
and March. In New York and New Jer-
sey the amount of winter killing was moi
fully known on April 1, and this, with
cold, unfavorable weather during the
month, has caused a serious reduction OF
condition. Drouth has reduced the average
somewhat in the Eastern Gulf States and
has wrought very serious damage in Texas
and Arkansas. lowering condition dur
ing the month nineteen and ten points
respectively Favorable temperature and
seaso nable rains have improved the
prospect in Tennessee, West
Virginia and Kentucky, condition being
considerably higher in these states than il
has average in May for the past five years
The most serious reduction of the month is
in Ohio, where there is falling off Of
points since the first of April, due to the
continuing evil effects of the alternate freez
ing and thawing noted in the last report
and to the cold. dry weather during the
greater part of April, which gave the in
jured plant little chance for recuperation
A favorable season after April 1st might
have, in a great measure, repaired the in
jury done up to that time, but the con
tinued unfavorable conditions have
wrought still further damage and 6
small crop is now inevitable. Mich
gan and Indiana show slight decline
while in Illinois and Missouri there is q
gain of one point. Unfavorable weather
in Kansas and California has caused 8
slight falling off, while in Oregon the pros
pect has advanced, it being the only state
in which the condition reaches 100.
The averages of conditions by states are
New York, Sc; Pennsylvania, n; Mary
land, 81; Virginia, So North Carolina, 70
Texas, 60; Arkansas, SO; Tennessee, So
West Virginia, 50; Kentucky, 95; Ohio
Il; Michigan, 80; Indiana, 81; Illinois, SO
Missouri, SO; Kansas, ST. California. 80
Oregon, 101.
Rye has suffered from the same condi
tons which have injuriously affected
wheat, but ON account of its
harder nature the average is
considerably higher, standing a,
9O.S against 92O on April 1, and 95.7 al
the same date in 1886. The condition OF
barley is low, the average being S7.S
against 967 in May, 1889, amp 50 in 1885
the season has been more generally ad
vanced in all parts Of the country than
usual, spring blowing being only seriously
behind OH the Atlantic coast south to Penn
sylvania, and on the Pacific slope II
these sections it has been delayed by colo
and excess Of moisture. Elsewhere the
work is ahead of an average year, the sea
son, especially during April, having beer
generally favorable, with temperature
above the normal and rainfall at mini
mum. The proportional already done or
May 1st is estimated at so per cent Of the
whole, while the amount usually complet
ed at that date is about 76 per cent.
The proportion of cotton already planted
amounts 20 more than four fifths of the
propose ed area, and is slightly greater than
at the same date in any Of the preceding
five years, but is little less than the pro
portion returned by the correspondent al
the average planting at the date. The pro
portions by states are North Carolina, 20
Sout Carolina, so; Georgia, 81; Florida, 90
Alabama, IS; Mississippi, 81; Louisiana, So
Texas, 50; Arkansas, so; Tennessee, so.
There is some complaint of slow germin-
alton and poor stand on account of drouth
at time Of planting, in some sections, but
with favorable weather replanting is rapid
~ filling all the gaps.